As you probably know, Ricki (the Cheese Queen) and all of the staff at New England Cheese Making Supply Co. supports the labeling of GMO foods (Genetically Modified Organisms). Ricki testified at a hearing recently about this subject (click here) and she feels very strongly about the importance of transparency in our food supply. The issue is complex, but, basically, many of us feel that we have the right to know what we’re eating.
There is a new movie about this subject – “Consumed,” a dramatic thriller (not a documentary) about a mother who sets out to determine why her son is getting ill. It features several well known actors – Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Taylor Kinney (Chicago Fire), Anthony Edwards (Top Gun), Victor Garber (Argo), Kunal Nayyar (Big Bang Theory), Griffin Dunne (Dallas Buyers Club), and Beth Grant (Mindy Project). It explores the way a few large corporations have taken over our food supply.
The films are crowd sourced, meaning you register to see it and if enough people sign up, the screening happens. You only pay for your tickets if the movie is shown. To get tickets for screenings click here
In our area, so far, there are no screenings scheduled. So, we signed up to be notified by e-mail when one is. This movie is not available on YouTube, but there is a documentary there called Consumed. (It’s good, but not as interesting as the movie appears to be.) Here’s the trailer for the movie:
Pam says
When there is such a battle over the action of labeling our foods it makes me wonder why the battle exists in the first place. If those who believe GMOs are not harmful had nothing to lose and those who believe GMOs are harmful had nothing to gain it would be interesting to see the results in the marketplace once the labeling was required. My greatest desire would be that my food is God made and not man made. Is that so much to ask?
Galen Fridge says
For this and other reasons, I am a staunch supporter of mandatory labeling laws. I simply believe that as consumers we have a fundamental right to know what’s in our food as a prerequisite to informed choice.
Susan A. Gannon says
James is incorrect when he says that GMO is a breeding process. So many people are misinformed about this. The DNA of the genetically modified organism is severed through biological manipulation and a new DNA sequence is inserted. This new DNA may be a sequence from an animal, plant, or even a microorganism. In the case of corn and soy, the modified genetic components make them resistant to the ingredients in Round-up. Round-up is employed to kill off weeds which compete with the corn and soy. Through natural selection, we now have super weeds which have become resistant to the Round-up, making the producers of GMOs desirous to produce more GMOs which are resistant to the ingredients in Agent Orange. What a cycle!
Susan Gannon
Jeri Case says
Thanks for clarifying that, Susan.
I appreciate how civilized you are being about disagreeing with the premise of the movie. The comments at our Facebook page have not been as kind! I know you know more about this than most of us, but how can we ignore information like this from the IRT (Institute for Responsible Technology):
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.
I think you are really misguided here. “GMOs” are a breeding process, not an ingredient and in over 20 years of use they have never been shown to cause any harm. In the case of rennet, it is identically rennet, and it matters not how it is made.
This movie seems to be nothing but fearmongering misinformation. However, I will be writing a review after I see it next week.
When you write your review, please send us the link. We’re still waiting for the film to be shown in our area.
I agree James
As a food scientist in the dairy industry I agree with James. No trace of GMO can be found in milk because it is completely digested, but non-GMO Project does not recognize milk as non-GMO unless the cow eats only non-GMO feed. Completely fear based, has nothing to do with science. I worry we are moving backward as a society with fear mongering articles and apparently videos like this,